Rheem Manufacturing officials announced Friday that they are completing plans to move portions of its Milledgeville operation to Mexico.

According to a press release from Randall Layne, plant manager at Rheem, the plant will move the production of N-style evaporator coils and some Rheem and Ruud brand rectangular air conditioning and heat pump products to a new plant in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

The 400,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Nuevo Laredo is expected to be completed by Nov. 3. One production unit or cell of both the coil and air conditioning, along with associated support equipment will be relocated from Milledgeville to the new plant in Mexico, which will feature state-of-the-art equipment.

According to a company press release, the final day of N-style coil production at Rheem’s Milledgeville plant will be Oct. 24. Relocation is expected to be complete, and the Mexico plant is expected to be online by January 2009.

The move will result in a temporary layoff. According to the release, business conditions will determine when employees will be called back to work, and the company will maintain contact with employees to keep them advised as business conditions are clarified.

Rheem recently completed a seasonal temporary layoff of 450 employees.

“The impact of some of our business will affect approximately 450 employees that have been laid off,” John Anthony, of Rheem Human Resources said.

At press time, it is unknown how many additional employees will be affected by the relocation and ensuing layoff. The Milledgeville plant will continue to produce the company’s main line of Rheem and Ruud air conditioners, as well as heat pump products, air handlers, multi-flex evaporator coils and oil furnaces, the release states.

Anthony said at press time Friday that outside the press release issued by Rheem, the company would have no further comment.